Rail-bond



H H. FEBREY.

RAH. noun. APPLICATHJN HLED MAY 28, ISIS- RENEWED MAR. 24,1921.

- Patented 001;; 25, 1921;

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HAROLD H. FEBREY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STEEL AND WIRE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

RAIL-BOND.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Oct, 1921.

Application filed May 28, 1918, Serial No. 237,096. Renewed March 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,323.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IAROLD H. FEiiRnY, a citizen of the United States, -and resident of Newark, in the countyof Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Bonds, f

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to-th construction of rail bonds used in electrically connecting the abutting ends of track rails, third rails and the like, and while not limited to such type; more particularly relates to the construction of rail bonds of the -tunnel type in which the flexible conductor of the rail bond ,is positioned in the recess or tunnel formed betweenthe rail web and opposite face of the adjacent splice bar used-in mechanically fastening the adjacent ends of contiguous rails, instead of extendin around the splice bar on the exterior thereo t.

Heretofore, in so far as I am aware, it has been thepra'ctice with rail bonds of the One object of my invention is to provide a rail bond of the tunnel type, having novel means enabling the bond to be put into place in the tunnel and welded or otherwise fastened to the rails after the splice bars have been applied to the rails.

Another object of the invention is the pro: ,vision of a rail bond having terminals shaped to fit the angle of the rail atthe'l' intersection of the rail web with-the head, or base of the rail, and arranged to avoid the necessity of making right and left hand terminals.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a [rail bond having terminals which extend lengthwise parallel with the length of the flexible rail bond conductor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail bond having terminals of novel construction enabling the terminals to be readily attached mechanically to the ends of the rail bond conductors in the field or in't-he shop. a a "-A further object of my invention is to .the rail bond conductor.

Still-further objects of my invention consist in providing a railbond having the novel constructions, arrangements and combination of parts, shown in the drawings, and to be described in detail hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a rail bond of the tunnel type, constructed and arran ed and hpplied for'use in connecting the a utting ends of two rails. in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fi 1, the section being taken on the line 11- I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, similar to that of Fig. 2, the section being taken on the line III- H1 of Fig. 1. t

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, like that of Figs. 2 and 3, the section being taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig, 5 is a plan, on a larger scale, showing details in the construction of the rail bond terminals, forming a novel feature of my invention. a

. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the parts of In the accompanying drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the abutting ends of two track rails or third rails which are mechanically connected by means of splice bars H, the splice bars being fastened in.

place by track bolts 5 which extend through registering holes in the splice bars 4-4- and.

the web of the track rails 2,-' 3. The shape of the opposite faces of therail and splice bars is such as to form an opening or tunnel',

. fastened on the avoided. cross-section of the terminals may be varied 7 through which the flexible conductor 8 extends when the bond is being applied to the abutting rail ends.

Each end of the conductor 8 is provided with a terminal 9, and the terminals which preferably are cheaply made of a malleable ferrous metal, although any suitable metal or alloy may be employed, are arranged to extend lengthwise parallel with the length of the conductor 8. (See Figs. 1, 5, and 6.

The terminals 9, which are of substantially triangle cross-section, have opposite side surfaces 1Q, 10 forming an included angle of less than 90 degrees, the other side or base of the triangle extending substantially at right angles to the medial line XX of Fig. 7, and in this way the necessity of making right and left hand terminals is It is obvious, however, that the to suit conditions, as found necessary or desirable.

'lhe terminals 9 have a transverse notch in the upper side thereof forming a poti-zet for the metal used in welding or otherwise fastening the rail bonds to the rails, this pocket sioping smfaces The terminals 25 on the upper side thereof, these lugs forming an open sided slot or groove in which the conductor ends are secured in eu-chanically fastening the terminals on the conductor 8. The so-formed slot extends engthwise parallel to the length of the terminals and preferably is made tapering, with the large end of the slot adjacent to the transverse notch Q. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) he lugs 15 are ii.,.tlil. Y bent down into tight holding engagement with the ends of the conductor, either by power means or with a hammer.

It will be noted that the sloping surface 13 ofthe pocket 12 causes a larger end surface of the conductor ends to be exposed to contact with the meta 16 added in welding the bonds to the rails. F In the construction of rail bonds made in accordance with my invention, the terminals 3 will be formed as shown, and preferably one of the terminals will be mechanically fastened to the end of the conductor 8 in the shop by bending over the lugs 15 into close holding engagement with the end of the conductor. r

In a plying a rail bond to the'rails, are end of? the conductor 8 not having a tor miual thereon, will be threaded through the tunnel 7, this being made possible by the omission of the terminal on'one end of the conductor. A second terminal 9 is then projecting end of the conductm 8, this terminal being readily applied by lu'unmering over the lugs into holding engagement with the conductor, after the 13 and 14.

having oppositely inclined also have opposite lugs 15,

conductor is inserted in the tunnel 7. The terminals being symmetrical about the-niedial line XX of Fig. 7, the making of right and left hand terminals is made unnecessary. The surface of terminals 9 and the rails 2 and 3 at the point of application of the terminals, will be cleaned to remove all scale or oxid, preparatory to applying the rail bonds.

After the second one of the terminals 9 is secured on the end of the bond conductor, the terminals are placed in position at the juncture of the rail web with the upper surface of one flange of the rail base. When in this position the transverse groove 12 in one face of the terminals coacts with the vertical face of the rail web to form a pocket or recess, adapted to receive the fused metal or alloy, with which the pocket is filled in fastening the terminals to the rails.

The terminals 9 are then heated, electrically, or by means of a blow-torch, or in any other approved manner, and at the same time the ends of the conductor 8 and adjacent surfaces of the rail will become highly heated. A suitable flux will be used to prevent oxidation of the surfaces during the heating operations. .A metal or alloy pencil is then introduced into the zone of heating and isthereby fused, and molten metal is added until the pocket formed by the groove 12 in the terminals and opposite surface of the rail web is filled. More metal may be added on top of the terminals until it is built-up as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the rail bond is thereby welded to the rail ends. At the same time the added metal 16 welds to the exposed end surface of the conductors tlso that in applying the bonds to therails, the metal 16 added in welding is welded to the rails 2,3, the terminals 9, and also to the ends of the rail bond conductor 8.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The rail bond is of simple construction and is easily and cheaply made, and is readily fastened to the rails, and the necessit of applying the rail bonds to the rails before fastening the splice bars in place is rendered .unnecessary.

An important feature of my improved tunnel type of bonds is that one or both of the terminals may be carried separately and be mechanically attached to the end or en of the conductor in such'a way as to expose;

the end portion ofthe conductor so that this and the terminal can be welded to the rail at one operation. t Various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, the terminals may be applied to other points of the head, Webor base of the rail and may be suitably/modified in shepeto fit them to such points; and they may be applied to the rail either by the gas flame method described or by any other known or suitable method.

I claim l. A rail bond adapted for welding to the side surfaces of the rails and comprising a flexible conductor, having terminals on the ends thereof extending lengthwise parallel with the length of the conductor, said terminals having opposite lugs on one side arranged to bend into holding engagement with the conductor ends, to thereby mechanically connect the terminals to said conductor, and having a transverse notch in one side forming a metal receiving pocket arranged to permit the rail, the conductol and the terminals to be united by the fused metal used in welding the rail bond to the rail. v

2. A rail bond adapted for welding to the side surfaces of the rails and comprising a flexible conductor, having terminals on the ends thereof extending lengthwise parallel with the length of the conductor, said ter minals having opposite lugs on one side ar ranged to bend into holdin engagement with the conductor ends; to thereby mechanically connect the terminals to said conductor, and having a transverse notch in the side having the lugs forming a metal re ceiving pocket arranged to permit the rail, the conductor and the terminals to be united by the fused metal used in welding the rail bond to the rail.

3. A rail bond adapted for welding to the side surfaces of the rails and comprising a conductor and terminals on the ends thereof. said terminals extending lengthwise parallel with the length of said conductor, and having a transverse notch in one side forming a metal receiving pocket metal used in welding the rail bond to the rail.

the side surfaces of the rails and comprising 4. A rail bond adapted for Welding to a conductor and terminals on the ends thereof, said terminals extending lengthwise parallel with the length of the conductor,

and having two angular side surfaces ar-i, ranged to contact with the surfaces of the rails in welding the rail bond to the rail, 2. portion of said terminals being cut away, forming a pocket adapted to retain molten metal used in welding the bonds to the rails. A rail bond adapted for welding to the side surfaces of the rails and comprising a conductor and terminals on the ends thereof, said terminals extending lengthwise parallel with the length of the-conductor, and having two angular side surfacesan ranged to contact with the surfaces of the rails in welding the rail bond to the rail, and the third side of said terminals having a transverse notch coacting with Vertical surfaces of the rails to form pockets, said pockets being adapted to retain molten metal used in welding the rail bonds to the rails.

6. A rail bond adapted for welding-to the side surfaces. of the rails and including a conductor and a terminal extending lengthwise parallel with the length of said conductor and having a slot at one end for receiving the end of the conductor, said slot being flared toward its inner end and the conductor being correspondingly expanded tolill said slot. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my nand;

HAROLD .H. FEBREY. 

